‘Rumours and slander’: China denies campaign against Rafale, says not aiming to become ‘arms dealer’

China has strongly denied allegations that it launched a coordinated disinformation campaign to undermine the reputation of France’s Rafale fighter jets, calling the claims “pure groundless rumors and slander.”

The denial came after a report cited unnamed intelligence sources alleging that China used diplomatic channels and social media manipulation to discredit the Rafale’s performance during India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025. The report claimed Chinese embassies in Southeast Asia and Africa had lobbied countries to reconsider Rafale deals, while online campaigns used AI-generated content and fake videos to question the jet’s reliability.

Responding to the reports, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense reiterated that China has consistently followed a “prudent and responsible approach” to military exports. In a comment published by state-run Global Times, the ministry said China develops defence equipment to ensure its own security and not to become an “arms dealer” or attack foreign products.

“China has always played a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability,” the statement said, adding that it was Western politicians and media outlets that were projecting their own insecurities by interpreting global competition through a confrontational lens.

The allegations surfaced in the wake of the Rafale’s high-visibility role in India’s limited air campaign against Pakistan, during which the aircraft reportedly played a key part in striking terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control. French officials have since claimed that China saw the Rafale’s combat deployment as a threat to its own defence exports and acted swiftly to distort its image in potential markets.

French media reports suggest that China’s campaign involved the creation of hundreds of fake social media accounts and the circulation of doctored combat footage designed to mislead viewers. A key focus was to cast doubt on the Rafale’s performance in real-world scenarios and promote Chinese alternatives like the JF-17 and J-10C.

China has rejected all such claims, calling them politically motivated attempts to smear its growing influence in the global arms market. The Global Times editorial said it is not China’s practice to “elevate itself by belittling others,” and accused Western actors of being trapped in a mindset of confrontation.

France has not officially lodged a complaint with Beijing, but the controversy has sharpened scrutiny on the tactics used by major arms-exporting nations amid rising geopolitical competition.

India, one of the largest operators of the Rafale outside France, has not issued a formal statement on the matter, although officials have previously suggested there were attempts to malign the aircraft’s reputation.